About the Editor

Carlos da Silva Campos.

Professional journalist, with background on the economical press and Packaging Editor since 1982, heading independent magazines REVIPACK (packaging), REVIPLAST (plastics) and REVIPROJECT (automation).
Lawyer since 1984 and and Packaging Consultant since 1986, working for several industry associations related to packaging and recycling. Honorary Member of IPPO - the International Packaging Press Organisation. Served as Vice-President (1996-1999) and Chairman (1999-2002).

An average European-wide recycling rate of 75% was achieved in 2013, 1 percentage point up from the previous year, reports APEAL, using data sources and methodology reviewed by Eunomia to measure the steel recycling.

A tonne of recycled steel saves over one and a half times its weight in CO2 emissions, over twice its weight in raw materials and uses 70% less energy than producing steel from virgin sources.

“The scrapping of the Circular Economy Package earlier this year by the EU Commission was clearly disappointing, but there are promising signs that a replacement will be announced soon that will provide ambitious recycling targets necessary for pushing Europe towards a circular economy. APEAL is confident that this is the way forward and in the meantime we will continue to concentrate our efforts in those countries where there is still potential for increased steel recycling.” – said Alexander Mohr, secretary general of APEAL

2014 proved to be a record year for Can sales, with almost 63 thousand million cans filled in Europe, an increase of 4%, as reported by Canadean, commissioned by Beverage Can Makers Europe (BCME) . Carbonated Soft Drink (CSD) fillings increased by 5% to almost 32 thousand million cans, exceding, for the first time those of Beer. With an increase of 2%, Beer fillings has made a remarkable performance, considering the overall drop in beer sales of over 1% across the European region. With 31 thousand million beer cans filled, cans represent 22% of total beer sales.

"These excellent results were delivered despite a moderate summer, whilst the Football World Cup proved beneficial, helping deliver a positive contribution to can consumption" – says BCME. The winning nation, Germany, saw Beer filling increase by 8%, confirming an accelerating positive trend within this market. The increasing range of Beverage Can styles and sizes now available to brand owners aids product differentiation, permitting a wider more diverse range of products to be packaged in cans and increasing consumer consumption occasions.

BCME members are the major European beverage can manufacturers Ball, Crown and Rexam.